Last shadow ∙∙∙

Last shadow ∙∙∙

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. – Colossians 1:13

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 3:19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

Toruk – Last Shadow

Fans of Avatar will undoubtedly recall the legendary Toruk, the apex aerial predator that ruled the skies over Pandora. Revered and feared, this magnificent creature held a prominent place in Na’vi lore, symbolizing nobility, power, and unmatched domination of the air. Its name, translated as “last shadow,” was derived from its fearsome reputation.

Flying high above the lush forest canopy, Toruk was seemingly invincible among Pandora’s creatures. It attacked from above, with victims often glimpsing its lethal shadow moments before their end. Interestingly, Toruk preferred feasting on banshees, which were not only its favored prey but also the Na’vi’s bonded companions and flying “horses.”

Toruk had one notable weakness, however. It could not see directly above itself. But most of the time, that was no problem. As the ultimate aerial predator, it did not need to watch for attackers.

Jake Sully – Toruk Makto

Jake Sully exploited Toruk’s singular vulnerability during a pivotal moment. Flying his banshee above Toruk, Jake leaped onto the creature’s back. Next thing you know, Jake had bonded with it. This extraordinary act transformed Jake into Toruk Makto, meaning “Rider of Last Shadow.”

When Jake flew Toruk back to the Omaticaya clan, he was celebrated and revered. According to Na’vi legends, Toruk Makto appears only during times of immense struggle and sorrow to lead the Na’vi to victory against their enemies. A Toruk Makto had not appeared among the Na’vi in four generations. Only five have managed that feat in the long history of the Na’vi. Jake becomes the sixth person to bond with the creature.

With Jake’s success, the Na’vi now had air superiority and control of the skies. The rest is history, well, imaginary history.

Darkness Gives Way to Light

Much like Pandora’s mythology, the rhythms of light and darkness echo through the story of creation and humanity’s struggles.

Creation Begins in Darkness

Genesis opens with an image of a formless earth shrouded in darkness, Genesis 1:1–2: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep.”

However, darkness is only temporary and does not last. The light conquers the darkness. When the Father spoke, light shattered the darkness (Genesis 1:3 ): “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

The Father commands both the darkness and the light. The Father often uses momentary darkness to accomplish His purpose.

God’s Purpose in Darkness

Throughout history, the Father has used darkness as a temporary stage to reveal His redemptive power. It was very dark, perhaps the darkest of all nights, when the Lord Jesus Christ was taken prisoner to face trial, condemnation, mocking, and death on the cross.

This moment appeared to be the enemy’s ultimate victory, as Satan and his forces executed what they believed was a foolproof plan. Yet, their warped minds failed to grasp that they were fulfilling the Father’s eternal purpose.

Darkness Has Its Hour, But Light Prevails

The Father, in His infinite wisdom, allows darkness its hour. However, this hour is fleeting. It cannot stand against His eternal plan, which no created force can ever thwart.

Resistance is Futile

The Lord Jesus Christ made this crystal clear in John 12:27, “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose, I came to this hour.”

Jesus acknowledges acknowledges that this is the time permitted by God for the forces of evil to carry out their plans in John 14:30, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me,” and in Luke 22:53, “But this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

The darkest hour of the cross paved the way for the brightest dawn in history, the resurrection. Light triumphs over darkness, and the Father’s plan prevails against all odds.

REFLECT AND PRAY

Just as Toruk’s shadow brought dread to its prey, dark times in life can feel overwhelming. Yet, the Father’s light is never far away, and darkness is only temporary.

Father, teach me to look up, especially when life feels overwhelming and ominous. Remind me that this darkness lasts only for a moment and that Your light will break through. Help me to trust in Your eternal plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

INSIGHT

The Necessity of Christ’s Death

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ was essential to bring salvation and resurrection life to humanity. Though the anguish, sorrow, and grief of that dark, terrible night were unimaginable. They have since dimmed with time. Yet, those events were not lost to history because they were recorded in the Scriptures and remain central to the message of redemption.

This is the ultimate truth of the cross: darkness was vanquished by light, and death was conquered by life.

From Grief to Joy

Jesus prepared His followers for what was to come, acknowledging the sorrow they would face and the joy that would eventually replace it:

Jesus explains in John 16:20, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.”

A Divine Plan Beyond Understanding

It is natural to ask why the Father chose such a grotesque and violent means to bring about eternal salvation. The anguish of the cross was staggering. Why this strategy? Why such suffering?

We may never understand why things happen as they do, nor fully grasp the reasoning behind the divine plan. However, in the end, it won’t really matter. Among all the possible strategies and permutations to bring eternal salvation to humanity, this particular choice was made by the Father and the Son.

It reflects a depth of love and sacrifice beyond our understanding.

The apostle Paul explains in Colossians 1:13, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

The Realm of Darkness

The term translated as “darkness,” skotos in Greek, “means more than just the absence of light.” Instead, it “represents a spiritual realm dominated by evil, sin, and ignorance of God and His truth.” Darkness is “the domain of the enemy.” It is the enemy’s territory where the devil and his demons have been granted limited authority.

But, like any tyrant, the enemy has his weakness.

The Enemy’s Inability to Comprehend

The enemy of our souls has the same fatal flaw as the legendary Toruk of Pandora. He does not look up. He is unaware of what looms above him. The devil cannot comprehend or foresee Who is coming to end his brief dominion over the earth. The enemy’s reign will not last forever.

One day, the Son of Man will descend from heaven in power and glory. The apex predator of our spirits will meet his defeat.

The Lord Jesus Christ explains in Matthew 24:30, “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

The Ultimate Triumph

The cross reminds us that darkness may endure for a time, but the light always prevails. Death’s grip is broken, sorrow gives way to joy, and victory belongs to the Lord. The Father’s plan is unstoppable, His power unmatched, and His love unchanging. The Father’s light will overcome the darkness, and all children of the King will live forever, basking in His eternal glory.

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© Dr. H 2025